Halstead Independent chapel records

I’ve been rummaging about, trying to find records for Halstead’s non-conformists. It’s a work in progress, but first of all, here’s 340 entries from the Independents’ “church book” from 1730-1825, giving names of members and ministers and when they joined, and even details of naughty non-conformists who were excommunicated. The image shows the New Congregational Church, which opened in 1866, and still stands today – albeit as private apartments.

Essex Regiment memorial

In the summer, I visited the National Arboretum in Staffordshire. Among the many memorials to various military regiments, I found this memorial to the Essex Regiment. My grandma’s Uncle Bill (who you may have read about before, when I identified his photo) was serving with them when he was injured at the Somme. He passed away in the early 1980s.

A memorial in white stone, with a gold eagle on its pinncale. Carved into a plaque on the memorial, it says “In honoured memory of all who served in the Essex Regiment, 1741-1971.”

Bildeston burials

Over 1,000 burials for Bildeston, Suffolk, from 1558 to 1630, now online.

There’s quite a lot going on in these transcriptions, as there’s not one but two epidemics that rush through the parish, in 1583, and 1603-1604. Having lived through covid, I’m sure we’re all that bit more sympathetic now towards the people who were affected by epidenics back then.